January 10, 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Institute of Architects (AIA) named the Gensler-designed Jackson Hole Airport Terminal Expansion and Renovation a recipient of the 2014 AIA Institute Honor Awards for Architecture. The annual awards represent the profession’s highest recognition of works that exemplify excellence in architecture, interior architecture and urban design.

For the design of Jackson Hole Airport, Gensler leveraged expertise from its aviation, hospitality and brand design practices to create a modern, efficient airport with an ambiance inspired by the regional context of Western Wyoming.

Describing the Jackson Hole Airport project, the jury notes: “Modestly elegant and elegantly modest. In the environment, it has an iconic presence. Unlike any other airport, the Jackson Hole Airport is warm and comfortable. These qualities, rather than security, drive the design. The project embraces the culture of the area in every way. The rusted steel, wood, and stone are great material choices that produced a regionally inspired solution.”

Selected from more than 500 submissions, Gensler will be honored at the 2014 AIA National Convention and Design Exposition in Chicago.

Project DescriptionJackson Hole is the only airport in the United States situated in a national park. As the gateway to Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, the airport is a visitor’s first and last impression. Gensler’s design concept considered the building as a simple, understated foreground feature intended to merely reside within the landscape.

Inspired by regional forms and materials, the design features a commanding overhang and massive wood columns, providing the sense of solidity and permanence. The queen-post trusses reduced beam depths, increasing the volume, allowing for an expansive glass curtain wall that reinforces the connection between interior and exterior. The dynamic quality of the weathered steel provides a lively contrast to the smoothness of the ground concrete floors and the tactile qualities of the wood structure. The sustainable attributes of the design established Jackson Hole as one of the few LEED Silver certified airports in the country.

For project images and additional credit information, see the AIA website.